Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "This is the biggest race of the whole week and it matters.

"It is massively important and massively important to Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin.

"I can't describe how great this win feels right now. It's a great day in Godolphin's history."

While Godolphin celebrated, Animal Kingdom's camp were left licking their wounds as the 5/4 favourite ended his career by flopping at the royal meeting.

The colt was expected to create history by becoming the first horse to secure a Group One victory on three different track surfaces, having also won the Kentucky Derby (dirt) and Dubai World Cup (synthetic).

But he never looked comfortable and was out of the running half way through the one-mile race.

"He didn't put the effort in. It was just not him at all," said his jockey Johnny Velazquez.

The third Group One race of the card was taken by Sole Power as he won the King's Stand Stakes, while War Command won the Coventry Stakes.